Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to lay the foundation stone for the Ken-Betwa river linking project on December 25 in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh. This marks the first initiative under India’s national river interlinking policy.
The project, costing Rs 44,605 crore, aims to provide drinking water to 44 lakh people in Madhya Pradesh and 21 lakh in Uttar Pradesh, alongside benefiting 7.18 lakh farmer families in 2,000 villages. It will also generate 103 MW of hydropower and 27 MW of solar energy.
The Ken-Betwa project includes the construction of a 77-meter high Daudhan dam on the Ken river and a 221-km long canal to transfer surplus water to the Betwa river. This will irrigate 8.11 lakh hectares of land across 10 districts in Madhya Pradesh and stabilise irrigation in Uttar Pradesh, benefiting districts like Mahoba, Jhansi, and Banda.
The project, seen as a major step towards addressing water scarcity in Bundelkhand, will also improve groundwater levels, support tourism, and generate employment opportunities. Additionally, it aims to preserve historical water bodies and support wildlife in the Panna Tiger Reserve.
